tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14429474744440588362024-03-13T23:10:14.067-04:00Musings by Rabbi Y.Y. JacobsonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06824723585329916359noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-25644518637069314952013-12-17T18:16:00.000-05:002013-12-17T18:21:57.884-05:00Insight of the Week: My Soul Like Dust?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">At the conclusion of the daily Amidah prayer, we say: “My G-d! Guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully… Let my soul be as dust before all.<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> </span>Open my heart to Your Torah…”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Is this really what we desire for ourselves and our loved ones—that they see themselves as dust of the earth, allowing everyone to step on them? Do we want to become doormats?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">To the contrary. What we are asking of G-d is that we discover an inner core of confidence that does not require validation from others, or even from ourselves; that we experience our innermost beings as having absolute, non-negotiable dignity. When you have that in your life, then even when someone steps—or tries to step—on you, it does not injure you, because your value comes from your own being. G-d loves you unconditionally; you may love yourself unconditionally, which in turn will allow you to love others unconditionally. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Tosefot (in commentary to Talmud Berachos 17a) offers this explanation to explain this prayer: Just as earth is not subject to destruction, so ask G-d that our descendants should never be destroyed. The ideas correlate. When your existence is rooted in ultimate Being, it can’t be destroyed.</span></div>
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simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-56358699273349250922013-12-08T21:10:00.002-05:002013-12-08T21:11:53.980-05:00Insight of the Week: G-d’s Wrath<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-buP8Eovn7nQ/UqUmX2J75VI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Kt8-i0d75fw/s1600/Depositphotos_1955542_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-buP8Eovn7nQ/UqUmX2J75VI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Kt8-i0d75fw/s200/Depositphotos_1955542_s.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Each day we say in the Shema, that if we follow alien gods,
“G-d’s wrath will burn against you and He will stop the heavens, so there will
not be rain…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Statements like these in the Torah can easily be misunderstood.
G-d can be perceived as a Lord of wrath who waits to punish us for every
wrongdoing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">G-d is love. G-d loves you unconditionally. Nothing you do or
don’t do can destroy or even dampen that love. The core of your being is pure,
holy, good, perfect, one with the essence of all existence. Your Being is
cherished and loved by G-d, because it is part of G-d. G-d never “punishes” you
because He hates you, or because He wants revenge, or because He wants to “show
you” whose boss, or because He is upset that you disobeyed Him; rather, He
challenges you in order to bring out the best in you, to help you discover your
essence, and to achieve your mission in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you read the words of the Shema in the original Hebrew it
actually says, “G-d’s intense passion will burn in you.” This means that G-d
craves that you see yourself as He does. All of our mistakes come from the fact
that we do not appreciate who we really are and what we are capable of. He wants
His intense passion to burn in our hearts that we experience ourselves and the
world around us from His perspective, so that you would be permeated with His
passion for what it means to live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-58004514620492248652013-12-03T19:22:00.000-05:002013-12-03T19:22:57.761-05:00Insight of the Week: The Secret of the Shamash<div style="background-color: white; clear: both;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">A moving insight by the Lubavitcher rebbe written up by Rabbi Yanki Tauber</span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 17.328125px; text-align: justify;">Insight of the Week: <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheYeshiva/421a100744/474fa3a18b/feb85d4aed" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Secret of the Shamash</a></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 17.328125px; text-align: justify;">It’s the first night of Chanukah, and a single flame is glowing the night away at the right-hand side of the menorah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Two? Oh, you mean the shammash. He doesn’t count.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Night after night, the shammash dutifully goes about his task of kindling lights. Each evening, he welcomes the newcomer and settles him into his rightful place in the growing row: two flames, three flames, four flames.... The shammash coaxes them to life and then stands watch over them, lest one falter and require a fresh boost of light.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Still the shammash doesn’t count. An imparter of light to others, he never attains the status of a Chanukah light in his own right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Despite—indeed because—of this, the shammash towers above all the other lights of the menorah. To forgo one’s own luminary potential in order to awaken a flame in others—there is no greater virtue.</span></span></div>
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simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-60538516778966703182013-11-25T08:55:00.000-05:002013-12-02T00:12:59.534-05:00Joke of the Week -- Thanksgiving and Chanukah<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">
<strong>Joke of the Week -- Thanksgiving and Chanukah:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://funtimebirdy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/parrot_head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://funtimebirdy.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/parrot_head.jpg" width="200" /></a>A young man named Jon received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. Jon tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.<br />
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Finally Jon was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.The parrot yelled back. Jon shook the parrot and the parrot got even angrier and more rude. Jon, in desperation, threw up his hands and grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then, suddenly there was total quiet, not a peep was heard.<br />
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Fearing that he had hurt the parrot, Jon quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto Jon's outstretched arm and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.I am sincerely remorseful for any inappropriate transgressions. I fully intend to do everything I can do to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.<br />
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Jon was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. He was about to ask the parrot why he had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, but the bird continued... "May I ask what the turkey did?"<br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Lesson of the anecdote: When we punish or penalize a child or a student we may sometimes do something which in our eyes is small and insignificant, yet in their eyes it may be extremely scary and frightening, thus the impact being heavily exaggerated.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">We must exercise extreme caution in choosing the methods of punishment.</span></div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-91355312882487835702013-11-17T19:57:00.000-05:002013-11-17T19:57:00.259-05:00Story of the Week: When He Grows Up<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">
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Week: When He Grows Up</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_l6_RVynxY/UollYhbjAgI/AAAAAAAAANc/89gJpc3ovco/s1600/newborn-baby-boy-sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_l6_RVynxY/UollYhbjAgI/AAAAAAAAANc/89gJpc3ovco/s200/newborn-baby-boy-sleeping.jpg" width="200" /></a>A husband and wife came to the Rabbi at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_583252505" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2am</span></span> in the morning, the night before the Bris of their newborn son because they couldn't agree on the name.<br /><br />To be sure, each wanted the name Moshe, but <strong>she</strong> wanted it to be after <strong>her</strong> father whose name was Moshe, and <strong>he</strong> wanted the name after <strong>his</strong> father whose name was also Moshe.<br /><br />You see, <strong>his</strong> father was a well-known creep — a gambler, an alcoholic, a thief, a schemer, a famous “ganav.” <strong>Her</strong> father, on the other hand, was a gentle, noble and pious spirit, known for his decency, integrity, kindness and generosity. Hence the mother of the newborn argued that there was no way she would allow her son to be named after her father-in-law… Yet, her husband argued, it is after all his father, and he wishes his son to carry his deceased father’s name.<br /><br />What do you do?<br /><br />The Rabbi thought for a long time and then he gave the verdict: The name which should be given to the child is Moshe.<br /><br />“After whom?” both parents yelled.<br /><br />“Well,” the Rabbi said calmly, “for that we will have to wait till the boy grows up. If he is a selfish creep, then we know that he carries the name of his paternal grandfather; if he turns out a mentch, then we know that the name is after his maternal grandfather…”</div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-13653748873976511292013-11-10T00:08:00.000-05:002013-11-10T00:08:37.009-05:00Story of the Week: The Fisherman<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s1600/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s1600/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s1600/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s1600/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s1600/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2OWZUOwcvk/Un8UEuzgGgI/AAAAAAAAANE/glDBvMO-mb0/s200/Depositphotos_29442021_m.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Story of the Week: The Fisherman</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">They tell a story of a man who docked his fishing boat at eight in the morning with the hold half empty.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">“Why did you come in so early?” asked a bystander.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">“Because I have caught enough to sustain me for the day”, replied the fisherman.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: How will you spend the rest of the day?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: I will smoke my pipe, relax with my family and enjoy some quiet time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: Why don’t you stay out a little longer and make a little more money”?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: What would I do with more money?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: You could buy another boat, hire someone to run it and make even more money.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: And what would I do with that money?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: I suppose you could buy more boats and have a fleet; this way you could make real money.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: And what would I do with real money?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: Well you could diversify into other lucrative opportunities and really</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">strike it rich.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: And what would I do if I were rich?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: I suppose if you really wanted to you could retire early.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Fisherman</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: And what would I do with an early retirement?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Bystander</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">: Well, replied the stranger, somewhat flummoxed, you would do whatever you wanted to do. You could do a little fishing, you could smoke a cigar, enjoy your family and maybe have some quiet time…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">That, the fisherman replied pointedly, is what I do already...</span>simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-29493879206384043722013-11-06T23:29:00.000-05:002013-11-06T23:30:11.969-05:00Joke of the week : Lower His Losses<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joke of the week : Lower
His Losses</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zHl8y5HWhkI/UnsWvEih2UI/AAAAAAAAAM0/h7h1bPxIrGc/s1600/Depositphotos_34402725_xs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zHl8y5HWhkI/UnsWvEih2UI/AAAAAAAAAM0/h7h1bPxIrGc/s200/Depositphotos_34402725_xs.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By: Rabbi YY Jacobson</span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
Ginsberg never pays his bills. Recently his friend saw him bargaining with a
supplier</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>"</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey, Ginsberg," Goldberg
asks him, why are you knocking that man's prices down ? You're never going to
pay him anyway</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="HE" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Listen,
answers Ginsberg, he is a nice chap. I just want to keep down his losses.<br />
<br />
Moral of the story: Even in dishonesty and carelessness, you can find a spark
of honesty and caring.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-72724564324048704472013-11-06T23:20:00.004-05:002013-11-06T23:20:35.205-05:00Joke of the week: Peanut Butter Sandwiches<div style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-top: 15px; width: 365px;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #646464; font-weight: bold;">Joke of the week: Peanut Butter</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #6c6c6c;"> Sandwiches</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">
<div style="color: #6c6c6c; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-shwqXfoS_rg/UnsU_cKDaDI/AAAAAAAAAMo/2LtqqruTlFI/s1600/Depositphotos_25973195_xs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-shwqXfoS_rg/UnsU_cKDaDI/AAAAAAAAAMo/2LtqqruTlFI/s200/Depositphotos_25973195_xs.jpg" width="200" /></a><h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">By: Rabbi YY Jacobson</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Every day at lunch time Yankel open his lunch sandwich and utters the same complaint. "Oh no, peanut butter again!”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">One day, after seven years, his co-worker finally loses his patience. "Why don't you ask your wife to make you something different, for heaven’s sake?"</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">"That won't help", Yankel replies, "I make the sandwiches myself".</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In life, much of our misery and anguish is not completely based on the circumstances around us, but rather on the messages we tell ourselves—and have been telling ourselves—as an interpretation of these circumstances. We can choose to make different sandwiches for ourselves and everything might change.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-62811082301004139892013-10-22T20:08:00.000-04:002013-10-22T20:08:50.280-04:00Joke of the week: My Grandfather Was Not Jewish<div style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-top: 15px; width: 365px;">
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</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #646464; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Joke of the week: </span><strong style="color: #6c6c6c; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My Grandfather Was Not Jewish</strong></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">
<div style="color: #6c6c6c; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">By: Rabbi YY Jacobson</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/3/22/1363946546667/Man-on-phone-MasterChef-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/3/22/1363946546667/Man-on-phone-MasterChef-008.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The offices of the Jewish Federation called a certain guy for a donation and he answered the phone in a thick British accent and an imperious tone, and he said "Madam, there must be a mistake. My name is Oliver Andrew Hamilton the Third and I'm not Jewish." And with that he hung up.<br /><br />The next day, his card got put in the wrong pile and he was called again, and he said the same thing. "Young lady, there must be some mistake. My name is Oliver Andrew Hamilton the Third and I am not Jewish." </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The next day, his card got put in the wrong pile again, and this time he really blew up. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Madam, there must be some mistake," he said. "My name is Oliver Andrew Hamilton the Third, and I am not Jewish. And my father Oliver Andrew Hamilton the Second is also not Jewish, and my grandfather, Oliver Andrew Hamilton the First, alav hashalom, was not Jewish either."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One of the greatest tragedies in life is when you are ashamed of who you are and you feel that your value comes from mimicking someone else. This has been a great tragedy for our people collectively, and for many of us individually.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-61925168976780040902013-10-16T19:58:00.002-04:002013-10-16T20:05:02.399-04:00Did Our Parents Brainwash Us?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did Our Parents Brainwash Us?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Growing up I asked myself these question numerous times,
"Have my parents brainwashed me with their beliefs?" "What would my
life look like had I grown up in a different home, in a different community?" </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
we call all education of a certain set of values and ideals
"brainwashing?" </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is the alternative? </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Should we tell our children,
"We will not give you direction. When you are an adult you will choose
your lifestyle and your belief system?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This teenager below is worth listening to. Take a look at this
clip:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isLtc5lFgf8&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isLtc5lFgf8&feature=youtu.be</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-11158278596510751882013-10-15T06:07:00.001-04:002013-10-16T19:58:01.375-04:00Joke of the week: You Want a Drink?<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Joke of the week: You Want a Drink?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By: Rabbi YY Jacobson<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgUs83-5jsk/Ul0TpxT1qXI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/sb53RRjnVmE/s1600/beer_iStock_000002984455XSmall_244x183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgUs83-5jsk/Ul0TpxT1qXI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/sb53RRjnVmE/s1600/beer_iStock_000002984455XSmall_244x183.jpg" /></a>A kind-hearted fellow was walking through Central Park in
New York and was astonished to see an old man, fishing rod in hand, fishing
over a beautiful bed of red roses.<br />
<br />
"Tsk Tsk!" said the passer-by to himself. "What a sad sight.
That poor old man is fishing over a bed of flowers. I'll see if I can
help." So the kind fellow walked up to the old man and asked, "What
are you doing, my friend?"<br />
<br />
"Fishin', sir."<br />
<br />
"Fishin', eh. Well how would you like to come have a drink with me?"<br />
<br />
The old man stood, put his rod away and followed the kind stranger to the
corner bar. He ordered a large glass of Beer and a fine cigar.<br />
<br />
His host, the kind fellow, felt good about helping the old man, and he asked,
"Tell me, old friend, how many did you catch today?"<br />
<br />
The old fellow took a long drag on the cigar, blew a careful smoke ring and
replied, "You are the sixth today, sir!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This joke depicts how easy it is to be deceived by others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So here’s some food for thought: If other people, with whom my
defenses are up, can deceive me, how much more so am I capable of deceiving
myself, in whose presence my defenses are down?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When you discover that you have been fooling yourself for so
many years, it may not be that funny.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-74131326203445012782013-10-15T06:04:00.005-04:002013-10-16T15:07:54.279-04:00Joke of the week: In the Opposite Direction<div style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-top: 15px; width: 365px;">
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Joke of the week: In the Opposite Direction<o:p></o:p></div>
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By: Rabbi YY Jacobson<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4r7l5eA5ZE/Ul0TFp3XmVI/AAAAAAAAAMI/knYQNx3B1kU/s1600/Elderly_Woman_Wrong_way_I-95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4r7l5eA5ZE/Ul0TFp3XmVI/AAAAAAAAAMI/knYQNx3B1kU/s200/Elderly_Woman_Wrong_way_I-95.jpg" width="200" /></a>As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car
phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him,
"Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way
on Interstate 77. Please be careful!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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"My dear wife," said Herman, "It's not just
one car. It's hundreds of them! I am the only car, in fact, driving in the
right direction."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In life, you sometimes need to muster the courage to go in
the opposite direction than most people. Not always does driving in the
opposite direction demonstrate that you are over the hill...<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-48007509191193385192013-10-01T19:47:00.000-04:002013-10-16T15:08:07.267-04:00Joke of the Week: Cat and Mom<div style="background-color: white; color: #646464; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">
Joke of the Week: <strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #6c6c6c; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;">Cat and Mom</span></span></strong></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;">By: Rabbi YY Jacobson</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal;">A man named Phil had never taken even a day's vacation. He never married--all his life took care of his elderly mom and his beloved cat. Friends and family urged him to get away just to relax a bit. His biggest concern was who would look after the cat and who would ensure his mother was fine. Phil's brother stepped up to the task and Phil was happily off on a long vacation.<br /><br />His first day out, Phil called his brother and immidiatly asked about the cat. The brother replied he was very sorry but the cat had died.<br /><br />Phil was devastated. How did this happen? "I don’t understand", he cried. "The cat was healthy. I took care of it so well. I am gone one day and it's dead?"<br /><br />His brother explained that the cat ran out to the street and it was struck by a car.<br /><br />Phil was crushed. He wept profusely. When he finally composed himself, he told his brother that he really should think about how he presents bad news to people. Since he was going to be gone for several weeks, he told his brother, "you could have said something like, 'The cat is on the roof.' In a day or so you could add "We've had trouble getting the cat down from the roof."<br /><br />Then a day later, you tell me, “the cat fell off the roof and died.” In that way I'd know that something was up and at least I'd be a bit prepared for the news.<br /><br />The brother apologized and said he would work at being more considerate in the future.<br /><br />So Phil then asked about their mother. "How is she?"<br /><br />After a pause, Phil's brother said: "Uh, Mom's on the roof."<br /><br />The moral of the story: Sometimes we are so cautious not to communicate directly, that in the end, we make things worse. Sure, always be considerate and sensitive; be gentle and respectful, but be direct with people. Communicate clearly, authentically and honestly. Exaggerated diplomacy is often a cover-up for insecurity. </span></h3>
</div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-71808611742047170452013-09-23T15:45:00.000-04:002013-10-15T06:08:17.726-04:00Story of the Week: Unity <div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Story of the Week: Unity <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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By: Rabbi YY Jacobson</div>
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<br />
The holiday of Sukkot is the festival of Jewish unity. Here is the story: <br />
<br />
A man once had four sons who never stopped quarrelling with one another. He was
always telling them how much easier life would be if they worked together but
they took absolutely no notice of him.<br />
<br />
One day he decided to show them what he meant. He called the sons together and
put a tightly tied bundle of sticks on the floor in front of them. "Can
you break that?" he asked the youngest son. The boy put his knee on the
bundle but though he pressed and pulled with his arms he could not bend the
wood. The father asked each son in turn to try to break the bundle, but none of
them could do it.<br />
<br />
Then he untied the string and scattered the sticks. "Now try," he
said. The boys broke the sticks easily in the hands.<br />
<br />
"Do you see what I mean?" asked the father. "If only you stand
together no one can hurt you. If you all disagree the whole time and insist on
going your separate ways, the first enemy you meet will be able to destroy
you."<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
simchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160721898966428839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-13129171152407021492013-08-20T18:00:00.000-04:002013-08-22T13:06:02.477-04:00My Last Day In Camp<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #221f1f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>By: Rabbi YY Jacobson. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a single moment, eleven years of
memories swelled up in my heart. I was a mere spectator, but I could not hold
back the tears. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, I have spent some eleven summers
in that location which I was now visiting. From the age of nine, back in 1981,
I was a camper—then a staff-member—in Camp Gan Yisroel, in Parksville, NY, a
small town off exit 98 on the 17. Only this time around, I came to camp to pick
up my 11-year-old son who spent part of his summer here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the last day at camp Gan
Israel. It was time to say goodbye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once upon a time, I was one of the
boys who would weep when camp came to a close and we were instructed to board
the buses that would tear us away from two months of limitless fun and deep friendships.
Now, 32 years later, it was like time froze: the same scenes, the same emotion,
but with a new generation of staff members and children. Right outside the
shul, counselors and campers stood in a circle singing an Alma Matter about their
two months in this Catskill Mountain resort. I looked up and I saw my son, his
arms around the shoulders of his counselor, singing too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mind took me back to the summer of
82, when the following Alma Matter was composed during Color-War. (The tune and
lyrics were written by Dr. Mendel Shemtov, solo by Yosef Piekarski.) It has
become an instant hit, and has been sung in camp ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snuggled by the fireplace<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One lonely winter night<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Skimming through fond memories<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of good times as a child<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fire melts away the years<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I find myself once more<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sitting by a fire, but<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time I’m not alone<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My counselor is sitting beside me<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My bunkmates are singing nearby<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With heartfelt concern he speaks to
me<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The words that changed my life<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How it pains my heart to realize that<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those times are forever gone<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, where would I be, if it weren’t
for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gan Yisroel I love you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few decades have passed since 1982.
But in this idyllic bubble, where heaven and earth converge in the innocent
imagination of children, not much has changed. Campers and counselors wept as
they embraced each other one last time. One camper in particular could not
console himself; he and his counselor were weeping uncontrollably. Those special
bonds created in over-night camps are unparalleled. The sparks ignited over the
two summer months, the friendships formed, the spirit of life ingested, the
deep Yiddishkeit bequeathed—have no parallel in any other structure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving down memory lane, I recalled
our own Friday nights in camp: the singing for hours, followed by the walks
with our counselors in the forests; the sleepless Color-War nights, the skits, plays,
and the insane hikes. The canteen, the pillow fights, water fights, and much-dreaded
Bedside Inspections. I recalled the many characters who hibernated all year,
and came to life only in camp. But most importantly: Those bonds between
campers and counselors which have over the years transformed the lives of
thousands of children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked out the front gate to go to my
car. And there he was: Eric. Eric, the legendary caretaker of camp over the
past four decades, was standing on the main road doing what he has been doing
now for forty years: directing traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Eric’s mouth was a cigar. It seemed
like the same cigar he had in his mouth back in 1981, when I was a camper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, Eric was getting annoyed with
the bus drivers who were not paying attention to his hand gestures. As always, the
muffler of the bus hit the gutter while going down the hill, and Eric demonstrated
his discontent. As he blew out some heavy chains of smoke, he exhibited his well-known
sour face which he often displayed to us when he saw us misbehaving in camp.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How can you boys not pick up a piece
of garbage in the Rebbe Shlaika’s camp?!” he would chastise us. That’s right;
Eric never mastered the title “Shlita.” Our camp for him was the “Rebbe Shlaika’s
camp.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #221f1f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The buses departed. The camp was now
almost deserted. What was just a few moments ago a bustling Garden of Eden,
filled with the laughter of hundreds of children, was now a lonely piece of
land in the Borscht Belt. I said, “Goodbye Gan Yisroel” as I walked swiftly to
the car. I knew that if I would procrastinate any longer, I might never leave
the bosom of my youth.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-31868920110284298922013-08-20T17:27:00.003-04:002013-08-20T17:27:41.103-04:00Change<div class="userContentWrapper aboveUnitContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joke of the Week: Change</span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hot dog vendor in Boro Park fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill. The hot dog vendor puts the bill in the cash drawer and closes the drawer. The Zen master remains standing, silently, for five minutes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, the vendor asks him: "How can I help you, sir?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Where's my change?" asks the Zen master.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hot dog vendor responds, "Change must come from within."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that is the essence of our work during this month of Elul--when we evaluate where we have been and where we want to go. I cannot change you; I cannot change my family, my children, my spouse, the people around me. I can change myself. And then everything will fall into place.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-76778969906561755162013-05-06T16:53:00.004-04:002013-05-06T16:53:52.252-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 37<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 37</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Gevurah Shebeyesod – Discipline in bonding</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: A boy comes home from school and tells his mother he got a part in the school play.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"That's wonderful!" says the mother, "Which part?"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"The part of a Jewish husband," says the boy, proudly.<br />Frowning, the mother says, "Go back and tell them you want a speaking role!"<br /><br />Bonding requires at times the discipline and restraint coming from mutual respect and recognition of boundaries.<br />Are you too verbal in your bonding? Are you overbearing? Do you know to back off and respect the space of the other?<br />As a teacher, do you know when to be silent and allow your student to think on his/her own? As a parent, do you know how to stop kissing and “choking” your child with your affection and bonding? As a friend, do you know how to say “goodbye” and give the person space?</span><br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/207141_631881896825565_771142668_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/207141_631881896825565_771142668_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 36</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Chesed Shebeyesod – Kindness in bonding</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: A man asks a judge to let him off jury service.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Judge says, ‘But surely your firm can manage without you for a few weeks.’ The man replies, ‘Certainly. They can manage without me altoge</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">ther – and I don’t want them to find out.’<br /><br />Yesod, bonding, is about creating the glue that bonds us to each other. When you wish to bond with someone learn how to express your love and affection for them in a way that they understand. Allow them to feel and sense how important a role they play in your life.<br />Do not keep your deep connection to the other person inside. Express it with passion and intensity.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Malchus Shebehod – Selflessness in consistency</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Pupil: My sister and I know the meaning of every word in the world. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Teacher: What does egotistical mean?<br />Pupil: That would be one of the words my sister knows.<br /><br />Don’t become arrogant about your ability to be steadfast, consistent and reliable.<br />Remember that it is not always about you, rather how you effect and benefit the people around you.<br />Do not become obsessed in your rigid schedules and patterns; do not worship your own need to be consistent. Rather, focus also on how it is affecting the people around you.<br /><br />- Rabbi YY Jacobson<br />yyjacobson@theyeshiva.net</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Yesod Shebehod – bonding in consistency</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">joke: An artist asks the gallery owner if there has been any interest in his paintings. ‘I have good news and bad news,’ the owner replies. ‘The good news is that a gentleman inquired about y</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">our work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings.’ ‘That’s wonderful,’ the artist exclaims. ‘What’s the bad news?’ The owner replies, ‘The guy was your doctor…’<br /><br />You are a responsible, consistent, reliable husband or father. Yet, you don’t feel you get the credit your commitment deserves.<br /><br />You are a reliable and fair employer. You have principles and you stick to them. Yet, you do not feel that your employees appreciate you for all the effort you put in being a consistent and principled employer.<br /><br />You work so hard to be there for your husband, all of his needs are met. He comes home to a fresh, hot dinner, and a clean home. Yet, he does not show appreciation…<br /><br />Sometimes, your consistency—though admirable—still requires bonding. You need to bond with your loved one, express to them your caring and affection for them. Tell them how much they mean to you and how important they are in your life. This can make all the difference.<br /><br />- Rabbi YY Jacobson<br />yyjacobson@theyeshiva.net</span><br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/603700_630977363582685_1080354394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/603700_630977363582685_1080354394_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-35311312350670456342013-05-02T11:01:00.001-04:002013-05-02T11:01:21.971-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 33<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 33</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Hod Shebehod – consistency in consistency</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: A traveler in the out-back pulled in for some gas and a cup of coffee. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">While drinking his coffee, he looked out the window and saw two workers out in the fields.<br />One was digging holes every couple of yards, and the other was immediately filling the holes up.<br /><br />This puzzled the traveler. Curiosity got the better of him, so he went into the field to ask the workers what they were doing.<br /><br />"Well", said one of the workers, "Me, my brother Seth and my other brother Jeff are tree-planting contractors working for the County. I dig the holes, Seth puts the trees in the holes and Jeff fills the holes back up. Today, Seth is off sick...<br /><br />...just because Seth is home sick, doesn't mean me and Jeff also have to take the day off!"<br /><br /><br />You embarked on a path toward a better and healthier life—one that is more productive, meaningful and moral. You were inspired for a while, but now the motivated has waned.<br /><br />This is the moment that calls for “consistency in consistency,” your consistency may lack an inspirational engine, but you must plow away. Be consistent in your consistency even when you have no passion to back it up.<br /><br />When you know something is true and correct, follow through, even when you are internally not motivated and you could not care less about it. This is where inner stubbornness must be elicited.<br /><br />What is the quality that most secured the endurance of our people? It was the ability to endure and remain steadfast in our commitment to Torah despite enormous resistance from without. Even when we lacked internal light and inspiration, we knew how to be consistent in our consistency.<br /><br />That is why Lag Baomer, the day of the passing of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochaei, is associated with this day in the omer. Rabbi Shimon, author of the Zohar, gave us the inner ember of endurance.<br /><br />- Rabbi YY Jacobson<br />yyjacobson@theyeshiva.net</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-38403913863924077322013-05-02T10:58:00.002-04:002013-05-02T10:58:33.279-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 32<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 32</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Netach Shebehod—Victory in consistency</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: A Texan is in Israel and is telling a dairy farmer how large his ranch in Texas is. He tells the farmer his ranch is so large that if he gets into his pick-up truck and drives all day, </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">he would not reach the other border of his ranch.<br />The Israeli responds," I used to have a truck like that.”<br /><br />There will always be forces outside of you that will easily derail you from your goals. To consistently follow through, you must access your capacity for forging ahead despite mockery, cynicism, disheartening comments, pressures, antagonism, or any other obstacle from without.<br /><br />If you know that you are on a good path and you are doing G-d’s work, march forward and do not blink. Be kind and empathetic to the positions and perspectives of others, but do not cave in just because it may be uncomfortable or scary.<br /><br />- Rabbi YY Jacobson<br />yyjacobson@theyeshiva.net</span><br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/551519_629613157052439_2044883675_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/551519_629613157052439_2044883675_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-27523377791906913912013-05-02T10:56:00.005-04:002013-05-02T10:56:59.767-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 31<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 31</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Tiferes Shebehod – Empathy in consistency</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: What’s the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? A good lawyer knows the law, a great lawyer knows the judge.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Consistent people need to be rigid to a certain degree, particularly towards themselves - refusing lavish temptations of all sorts. But do not let your consistency and self-mastery make you aloof, insensitive, obnoxious and judgmental. Remain empathetic to the conditions and challenges of other people. Respect their circumstances and their journeys which may have an entire different set of challenges.<br /><br />You must also be empathic to yourself. Despite your rigidity, in order to maintain your schedule and objectives, do not become obsessive. Retain your balance and sense of humor by understanding that what may be called success in one area might be defined as failure in another one. Have empathy for the inconsistencies of human life so that you don’t freak out when you are called on to change course.<br /><br />- Rabbi YY Jacobson<br />yyjacobson@theyeshiva.net</span><br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/401903_629237217090033_1369725721_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/401903_629237217090033_1369725721_n.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-86966509700744753632013-05-02T10:55:00.003-04:002013-05-02T10:55:24.740-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 30<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 30</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Gevurah Shebehod – Discipline in consistency</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke: An older Jewish couple was starting on a vacation, but it soon became obvious that their habit of arguing over everything was not taking a break. ‘It’s “Hawaii”, I’m telling you!’ </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">she shouted. ‘Oy! I never KNEW someone so stubborn! It’s pronounced “Havaii”!’ he replied. And so it went all the way to the airport and for the long flight. As they got off the airplane, the husband abruptly stopped his wife and turned to a man standing at the airport gate. ‘Now that we’re on the island, you can settle an argument between my wife and I. Is this Hawaii or Havaii?’ The man smiled and said, ‘This is Havaii.’ ‘Ha!’ the husband said, turning to his wife. ‘See, didn't I tell you never to argue with me? I’m always right!’ As they began to walk away, he turned and gave the man a hearty ‘Thank you!’ The man responded: ‘You’re velcome!’<br /><br />When Steve Jobs was asked what his ultimate success was, he responded: It was the many projects I declined.<br /><br />To be consistent, to maintain your balance, you must be disciplined and strong-minded within yourself. You have to be able to tell yourself “no”; you need to challenge yourself, your habits, instincts and cravings, if you want to persevere.<br /><br />Some of us have the power to persevere, but we lack the discipline and strength needed to say “no” to our destructive patterns. As a result, we pull the rug out from under our own feet. Rigidity is an important ingredient in a successful and meaningful life.</span><br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/485425_629231480423940_1949215866_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/485425_629231480423940_1949215866_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718292274001390378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442947474444058836.post-54150982710807994232013-05-02T10:54:00.001-04:002013-05-02T10:54:17.127-04:00Sefiras Haomer- Day 29<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Day 29</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Chesed Shebehod – Kindness in consistency</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joke #1: An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman met up for their lunch break every day at work. One lunch break, the Englishman says "Oh no! Not egg sandwiches again! If I get egg sandwiches tomorrow I'll kill myself!" The Scotsman opens his and says "Oh man! Not tuna sandwiches again! If I get tuna sandwiches tomorrow I'm going to kill myself!" The Irishman opens his and exclaims "No way! Potato salad sandwiches! AGAIN! I</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">f I get these tomorrow I'm going to kill myself!"<br />The next day they all met up again, and the Englishman opens his lunch. "Egg sandwiches!? Right then!" he yells and throws himself off a cliff. The Scotsman opens his lunch. "Tuna sandwiches again! Thats it!" and he shoots himself. "What? Potato salad again?" cries the Irishman upon discovering his lunch, and he hangs himself.<br /><br />At the funeral, the wives were huddled together crying. "I don't get it," said the Englishman's wife. "Why didn't he just tell me?" The Scotsmans's wife agreed. "I know, he should have just said something. I don't understand it!" The Irishman's wife joined in. "I don't understand!" she said. "He made his own sandwiches!"<br /><br />Joke #2: A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.<br /><br />The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.<br /><br />Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.<br /><br />In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.<br /><br />In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.<br /><br />He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.<br /><br />He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door.<br /><br />As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap, and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.<br /><br />As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed, reading a novel.<br /><br />She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked:<br /><br />“What happened here today?’”<br /><br />She again smiled and answered, “You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?”<br /><br />“Yes,” was his incredulous reply.<br /><br />She answered, ‘”Well, today I didn’t do it.”<br /><br />Personal Question: What is your reaction when you are ready to go to the Bar-Mitzvah on time but your spouse if not ready?<br /><br />Often, consistent and disciplined people become intolerant and unkind to others who they perceive as not being on par. In our attempt to live responsibly and consistently, we become rigid, terse and snappish.<br /><br />You live by the clock. When you arrive home, hungry and tired, you are ready for dinner. But dinner is not even close to being ready. Do you lose your patience and snap?<br /><br />It is good to be consistent and rigid with yourself. Yet remain kind, cheerful and good spirited to others who may be in a different place in life. Don’t allow your consistent and disciplined life style turn you into a grouchy and rigid party-pooper. </span><br />
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